With summer approaching, the interest in holidays on the beautiful island of Aphrodite is growing. The Kythera Pass, the tourism support programme for the Kythera, is just around the corner, giving thousands of travellers the opportunity to visit the island with a significant subsidy.The platform is expected to attract a huge amount of interest, as is traditionally the case with similar tourist aid programmes (such as the North Evia Pass or the Thessaly Pass). Below we have compiled everything you need to know about the start of applications, the beneficiaries and the process.
When the vouchers.gov.gr platform opens
As planned, the platform for submitting applications is expected to go live in the next few months, with information converging towards the end of May or early June. The procedure will be carried out exclusively digitally through the vouchers.gov.gr, and as is usual in such cases, the platform may be opened gradually depending on the expiring number of the VAT number of the persons concerned, in order to avoid overloading the system.
Who are the beneficiaries
As a rule, all adult natural persons who are tax residents of Greece are eligible to participate in the programme, provided they meet the following basic criteria:
- They have additionally submitted their tax return for the previous year.
- They are not permanent residents of Kythera.
- They are not beneficiaries of other similar social tourism programmes for the same period of time.
How to apply
The process is simple and requires only a few steps:
- You log in to the platform (vouchers.gov.gr) using your personal Taxisnet codes.
- Enter your contact details (email and mobile phone number).
- Confirm the information and submit the application.
- If your application is approved (either on a first-come, first-served basis or by lottery, depending on the final terms of the GGC), you will receive an email and SMS notification.
How the subsidy works
The beneficiaries who will be drawn will receive an intangible digital debit card (via Apple Pay or Google Pay) on their mobile phone. The subsidy amount will be redeemable directly at local businesses in Kythera that have POS, such as:
- Hotels and rooms to let.
- Catering businesses (taverns, restaurants, cafes).
- Local transport.
Tip: Make sure you have your contact details updated in the National Contact Register (EMEP) and have a contactless payment application (NFC) installed on your smartphone, so that you are fully prepared as soon as the green light is given!
